Read Between the Tech Podcast

Episode 13: Leadership and Honor Beyond The Ice

Brought to you by ProServeIT [https://www.proserveit.com/contact/]- Unlock your organization’s digital future | Ryan Walter [https://www.ryanwalter.com/] - Attain leadership performance beyond the ice. — Eric Sugar is the President at ProServeIT, an IT consulting company with 20+ years of experience in digital transformation and technology advisory for various organizations across North America. Eric is joined on this podcast episode by Ryan Walter, a former NHL player, coach and now a global speaker on leadership training/coaching through his website RyanWalter.com [https://www.ryanwalter.com/]. “I got curious. OK, so why do some teams win and some teams lose when they have the same talent? What's the missing ingredient? And of course, it's culture and leadership.” - Ryan Walter (Leadership Coach/Owner of RyanWalter.com [https://www.ryanwalter.com/]) In today’s podcast episode, we discuss: * Creating Quality Leadership Culture * Conflict and Leadership * Leadership Lessons from Sports * Honor & Business In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (00:33) Ryan's Background and Journey from a professional hockey player to a leadership coach (02:55) Leadership Lessons from Sports (07:10) Conflict and Leadership (12:07) Creativity and Honor in Business (16:42) Book/podcast recommendations (19:13) Closing Remarks “Honor doesn't happen at a podium. You know those are accolades. Honor happens when people are in difficult situations. It happens when we've got each other's back and we look out for each other.” - Ryan Walter (Leadership Coach/Owner of RyanWalter.com [https://www.ryanwalter.com/]) Referenced: • Hungry! Fuelling Your Best Game (Softcover): https://www.ryanwalter.com/product-page/hungry-fuelling-your-best-game-softcover [https://www.ryanwalter.com/product-page/hungry-fuelling-your-best-game-softcover] • PepTalk Ultimate Guide To Leadership and Conflict Management: https://www.peptalk.com/post/leadership-conflict-management-guide [https://www.peptalk.com/post/leadership-conflict-management-guide] • Why We Should Be Disagreeing More at Work: https://hbr.org/2018/01/why-we-should-be-disagreeing-more-at-work [https://hbr.org/2018/01/why-we-should-be-disagreeing-more-at-work] • Leading Through Conflict: Three Learning Strategies For Leaders: https://www.forbes.com/sites/annashields/2023/05/15/leading-through-conflict-three-learning-strategies-for-leaders/ [https://www.forbes.com/sites/annashields/2023/05/15/leading-through-conflict-three-learning-strategies-for-leaders/] Thanks for listening to our Read Between the Tech podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new episodes and learn more about technology conversations for your organization. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit proserveit.substack.com [https://proserveit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 12: Leveraging Technology for Better Health Outcomes as a CEO

Brought to you by ProServeIT [https://www.proserveit.com/contact/]- Unlock your organization’s digital future | Advica Health [https://advicahealth.com/] - Life is complicated. Healthcare shouldn't be. — Eric Sugar is the President at ProServeIT, an IT consulting company with 20+ years of experience in digital transformation and technology advisory for various organizations across North America. Eric is joined on this podcast episode by Kevin Brady, President of Advica Health, a outstanding healthcare navigation service which allows members to access an independent appraisal of their health needs and circumstances in a timely manner. “The most successful companies make, not just mental health, but the health of their employees a strategic priority for the organization.” - Kevin Brady (President of Advica Health) In today’s podcast episode, we discuss: * Health Navigation * Employee Health and Corporate Support * Sleep and Performance * Health Technology “I’m really excited about the world of tech and healthcare coming together and I think the sky’s the limit.” - Kevin Brady (President of Advica Health) In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (00:40) Kevin’s background/passion & the start of health navigation for employees (03:17) Mental Health and COVID-19 Impact (04:15) Mental Health on Demand Program (05:52) Stress Management in the Workforce and Mental Health Tools for Employees (09:37) Importance of Sleep and Work (11:38) Health Technology and Preventative Testing (15:31) Kevin Brady's Book and Personal Health Journey (19:19) Longevity and Health Span (22:14) Book/podcast recommendations Referenced: • How to Add Years to Your Life Through Exercise: How to Add Years to Your Life Through Exercise - Advica Health [https://advicahealth.com/how-to-add-years-to-your-life-through-exercise/] • 6 Management Tips for Supporting Employee Wellbeing at Work [https://extension.harvard.edu/blog/6-management-tips-for-supporting-employee-wellbeing-at-work/] • Employee wellness programs: 26+ best ideas and examples: Employee wellness programs: 26+ best ideas and examples | Blog posts | Forma (joinforma.com) [https://www.joinforma.com/resources/employee-wellness-programs] Thanks for listening to our Read Between the Tech podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new episodes and learn more about technology conversations for your organization. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit proserveit.substack.com [https://proserveit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 11: The Power of Leadership & Storytelling

Brought to you by ProServeIT [https://www.proserveit.com/contact/]- Unlock your organization’s digital future | Whetstone Inc. [https://whetstoneinc.ca/] - We help chief executives and sales leaders win, keep and grow key accounts. — Eric Sugar is the President at ProServeIT, an IT consulting company with 20+ years of experience in digital transformation and technology advisory for various organizations across North America. Eric is joined on this podcast episode by Adrian Davis, President and CEO at Whetstone Inc., a leading sales training and consulting company committed to driving organizations toward unprecedented success. “Real leadership is about helping others get what they want. It's never about manipulating, using or exploiting people. That's not leadership.” - Adrian Davis (President and CEO, Whetstone Inc.) In today’s podcast episode, we discuss: * Sales leadership * Defining healthy leadership * Power of storytelling in sales leadership * Balancing work/life as a leader “What you water grows.” - Adrian Davis (President and CEO, Whetstone Inc.) In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (00:40) Adrian’s background/passion (03:45) Defining leadership and the quality of a good leader (06:40) Work/Life balance as a leader (08:20) Crafting your ideal life (10:28) The power of storytelling in sales leadership (13:15) Growing the next generation of leaders (15:13) AI and sales leadership (18:45) Book/podcast recommendations Referenced: • AI and sales leadership: https://hbr.org/2023/03/how-generative-ai-will-change-sales [https://hbr.org/2023/03/how-generative-ai-will-change-sales] • Growing the next generation of leaders: https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-future-of-leadership-development [https://hbr.org/2019/03/the-future-of-leadership-development] • The power of storytelling in sales leadership: https://whetstoneinc.ca/we-all-want-to-be-heroes/ [https://whetstoneinc.ca/we-all-want-to-be-heroes/] Thanks for listening to our Read Between the Tech podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new episodes and learn more about technology conversations for your organization. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit proserveit.substack.com [https://proserveit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 10: Tech and Banking Fusion - Insights from RBC’s Innovation Arm

Brought to you by ProServeIT [https://www.proserveit.com/contact/]- Unlock your organization’s digital future | RBCx [https://www.rbcx.com/] - Backer of Canada’s most daring innovators and idea generators. RBCx power bold. — Eric Sugar is the President at ProServeIT, an IT consulting company with 20+ years of experience in digital transformation and technology advisory for various organizations across North America. Eric is joined on this podcast episode by Devon Thompson, Managing Director, Banking at RBCx, an innovative company in the Canadian tech and banking ecosystem supported by the Royal Bank of Canada. “I really love supporting financial literacy founders and really helping them grow and build their businesses in really unique ways.” - Devon Thompson (Managing Director, Banking at RBCx) In today’s podcast episode, we discuss: * Banking and Tech: Intersection explored. * Investment Trends: Tech, clean tech, life sciences. * Economic Outlook: Rates, inflation, 2024. * Strategic Focus: Startup resilience. * External Partnerships: Tech support. “We provide early stage tech-focused capital, a curated network of investors, content curated events, and deep operational expertise.” - Devon Thompson (Managing Director, Banking at RBCx) In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (00:55) Devon’s background/passion (02:23) Combining technology and banking (04:41) Business alignment with your bank (06:05) Business investments and the Canadian economy (10:28) Building the right internal/external team for your business (12:25) What upcoming technology are you interested in? (16:05) Changes in non-tech industries (17:58) Book/podcast recommendations Referenced: • Global clean tech investments - Statistics & Facts: https://www.statista.com/topics/3001/clean-technology-investments/#topicOverview [https://www.statista.com/topics/3001/clean-technology-investments/#topicOverview] • Inflation Outlook For 2024: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/inflation-outlook-2024/ [https://www.forbes.com/advisor/investing/inflation-outlook-2024/] • Thriving in Economic Uncertainty: Strategies for Startups to Adapt and Grow: https://www.spectup.com/resource-hub/economic-uncertainty-strategies-for-startups-to-adapt-and-grow [https://www.spectup.com/resource-hub/economic-uncertainty-strategies-for-startups-to-adapt-and-grow] • Technology Partnerships: A Guide to Selecting the Right Tech Partners: https://www.itonics-innovation.com/blog/technology-partnerships [https://www.itonics-innovation.com/blog/technology-partnerships] Thanks for listening to our Read Between the Tech podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new episodes and learn more about technology conversations for your organization. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit proserveit.substack.com [https://proserveit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Episode 9: Exploring Technology Transformation in the Franchising Industry

Brought to you by ProServeIT [https://www.proserveit.com/contact/]- Unlock your organization’s digital future | HomeFront Brands [https://homefrontbrands.com/] https://homefrontbrands.com/- Investing in, and amplify the growth of, small or early-stage residential or commercial property services brands. — Eric Sugar is the President at ProServeIT, an IT consulting company with 20+ years of experience in digital transformation and technology advisory for various organizations across North America. Eric is joined on this podcast episode by Michael O'Driscoll, President & COO at HomeFront Brands, an organization that holds an increasing number of emerging residential and light commercial property service franchised brands. “In anything that's consumer facing or any other sector, if you're average and you're not leveraging technology well, then you're just going to get found out and get left behind by all your competitors.” - Michael O'Driscoll (President & COO at Homefront Brands) In today’s podcast episode, we discuss: * A CEO’s view on evolving technology * Technology stacks and your business * Proper technology support for a franchise * The impact of AI on your business “I think AI is another example of something that will change the world forever, hopefully for good.” - Michael O'Driscoll (President & COO at Homefront Brands) In this episode, we cover: (00:00) Introduction (00:45) Michael’s background/passion (05:50) Technology guidance for your business journey (07:48) Homefront Brands and the franchising industry (09:27) Growing a business through the power of technology (12:44) Technology democratization and availability (15:11) AI and the future of business (20:02) Book/podcast recommendations Referenced: • AI's Business Value & Technology Strategy for Organizations: https://www.proserveit.com/blog/ai-business-value-and-tech-strategy [https://www.proserveit.com/blog/ai-business-value-and-tech-strategy] • How to Adopt AI Step-By-Step for Your Business [Complete Roadmap]: https://www.proserveit.com/blog/how-to-adopt-ai-step-by-step [https://www.proserveit.com/blog/how-to-adopt-ai-step-by-step] • The essential elements of an enterprise tech stack: https://webflow.com/blog/essential-elements-enterprise-tech-stack [https://webflow.com/blog/essential-elements-enterprise-tech-stack] • Democratizing Transformation: https://hbr.org/2022/05/democratizing-transformation [https://hbr.org/2022/05/democratizing-transformation] Thanks for listening to our Read Between the Tech podcast! Subscribe for free to receive new episodes and learn more about technology conversations for your organization. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit proserveit.substack.com [https://proserveit.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]